Multiple valve control unit



March 17, 1953 E. J. PERRIN MULTIPLE VALVE CONTROL UNIT Filed Dec. 18, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR E JPez'rin BY YZULLi-V ATTORNEYS March 1953 E. J. PERRIN 2,631,665

MULTIPLE VALVE CONTROL UNIT Filed Dec. 18, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet a mvsn-ron ,5. J. Perrz'n BY WW1,

ATTORN EYS Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE VALVE CONTROL UNIT Eddie J. Perrin,Lodi, Calif.

Application December 18, 195.0, Serial N 0. 201,271

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to water softening apparatus.

In water softening apparatus of the type adapted to be regenerated at recurrent periods, a multiple valve assembly is provided in the conduit system of the apparatus for the purpose of performing the regeneration cycle. Such cycle comprises back washing through the water sof- 7 tening tank, then feeding brine through said tank, followed by a fresh water rinsing flow therethrough; the softening tank normally being connected in the conduit system in a service position between the hard water inlet pipe and the softened water outlet pipe, which service position the valve assembly therefor occupies at the start and finish of the regeneration cycle.

Heretofore it has been the practice to manually actuate the valve assembly for the accomplishment of each step of the regeneration cycle; this being a practice which requires careful personal attendance to the apparatus, which is an inconvenience.

It is therefore a major object of the present invention to provide a novel control unit for automatically actuating the multiple valve assembly in the conduit system of the apparatus, and in a manner to perform the regeneration cycle without personal attendance after initiation of the operation of said control unit.

Another important object of this invention is to provide an automatic control unit, for the multiple valve assembly of water softening apparatus, which includes a motor driven time switch assembly arranged in a novel manner to control a separate electric motor driven power mechanism which motivates the multiple valves of said assembly in predetermined order, as is necessary to carry out the regeneration cycle.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide an automatic control unit which is readily adaptable to a standard multiple valve assembly of a water softening apparatus of the type described; the control unit being especially designed but not limited for use on a multiple valve assembly such as is employed on the Stover Pacemaker water softener, manufactured by the Stover Water Softener Co., St. Charles, Illinois, which valve assembly is shown in Manual #64 of such company.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic control unit, for the multiple valve assembly of a water softening apparatus, as above, which is relatively simple in its structure, economical to produce,' and embodying parts which ing or repair.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a practical and reliable multiple valve control unit, and yet one which will be exceedingly .effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. :1 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevation of water softening apparatus embodying a multiple valve assembly having the present invention mounted in connection therewith.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the multiple valve assembly and automatic control unit thereon, with the top cover removed.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the multiple valve assembly and automatic control unit thereon; the top cover remaining in place but the platform, adjacent end plate, and one of the supporting arms being partly broken away.

Fig. 5 is a cross section on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a diagram of the control circuit.

All of the figures show the parts in the position occupied thereby at the start of the regeneration cycle. 1

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, this invention is adapted for use in connection with apparatus which includes a Water softening tank I having a filler cap 2; a brine tank 3 and a multiple valve assembly, indicated generally at 3.

The water softening tank I, brine tank 3, and multiple valve assembly 4 are interconnected in a conduit system which comprises a top pipe 5 which leads from the upper end of the valve assembly 4 to the corresponding end of the tank l a bottom pipe 6 which leads from the lower end of the valve assembly t to the corresponding end of the tank I a hard water inlet pipe 1 connected to one side of the valve assembly 4; a soft water outlet pipe 8 connected to the other side of the In the normal or service position of the apparatus hard water flows from the inlet pipe 1 and is fed by the valve assembly 4 through the top pipe 5 into the water softening tank l; the softened water then flowing out of the tank into the bottom pipe 6', through said valve assembly 4, and to the soft water outlet pipe 8.

The internal structure of the multiple valve assembly 4 is not here shown, but is clearly illustrated in the aforesaid Manual #64 of the Stover Water Softener Co.

It will be understood, for the purpose of the present invention, that the multiple valve as-- sembly 4 includes a housing II in which the valves, six in number, are enclosed; cooperating in said housing with certain valve seats, porting, and ducting.

The valves are of poppet type and include valve stems I2 which project out of the front of the housing II through packing glands I3.

The valve stems I 2 are adapted to be depressed, whereby to open the corresponding valves, by means of rocker arms, indicated at A, B, C, D, E, and F, cooperating with corresponding ones of said stems; said rocker arms being pivotally mounted three on an upper cross shaft I4 and three on a lower cross shaft I5. Such cross shafts are carried on upper and lower supporting arms I6 and I1, respectively, which project forwardly from the front of the housing II.

4 pending end plates 22 which are secured to the supporting arms I9.

While normally fixed to said arms I9, the end plates 22 are connected so that said plates, together with the platform 2 I, and the parts thereon-as hereinafter describedmay be swung from normal upstanding position, as in full lines in Fig. 3, downwardly and rearwardly to a lowered position, as in dotted lines in said figure; the purpose of such lowered position being to permit manual access to the rocker arms A-F, inclusive, and associated parts.

The platform 2I carries a removable top cover 23, which protects the parts mounted on said platform.

A reduction gear box 24 is mounted on one end of the platform 2|, being driven by an electric The automatic control unit for the foregoing multiple valve assembly comprises a cam shaft I8 which extends horizontally outwardly of, but adjacent, the rocker arms A-F, inclusive; such cam shaft It being supported, at opposite ends,

by arms I9 which project forwardly from the housing II.

The cam shaft I8 is formed with a plurality of cams 20, such cams corresponding to said rocker arms, and being formed to actuate the latter in successive pairs, with each revolution of said cam shaft, as follows:

At the outset, when the cam shaft It is idle and in starting position, the rocker arms C and F are cam-actuated, opening the related valves.

This establishes communication between hard water inlet pipe I and top pipe 5, and between bottom pipe 6 and soft water outlet pipe 8; being the normal or service position of the water softening apparatus.

With rotation of the cam shaft I8 a firstquarter turn (said quarter-turns each having a dwell therebetween, as will hereinafter appear), the cams act to actuate rocker arms B and C, opening the related valves for the backwashing step of the regeneration cycle; pipes I and 6 being connected, pipes 5 and IE3 being connected, and a backwashing flow of water moving upward in tank I and finally discharging from pipe It].

The second quarter-turn of the cam shaft It brings cams into play which actuate rocker arms A and D, opening the related valves for the brine feeding step of the regeneration cycle; brine pipe 9 then being in communication with top pipe 5, and bottom pipe 6 feeding to drain pipe Ill.

When the third quarter-turn of the cam shaft- 58 occurs, cams actuate rocker arms C and D, opening the related valves, whereupon the rinsing step of the cycle begins; pipes l and 5 being connected, pipes 6 and It! being connected, and

a rinsing flow of water traveling downward in above the motor 25.

An endless chain and sprocket unit 26 connects between the output shaft 21 of the reduction gear box 24 and the corresponding end of the cam shaft I8.

The electric motor 25 is controlled by the fol lowing circuiting arrangement:

. An electric motor-driven time switch assembly, indicated generally at 23, is mounted on the platform 2i beyond the electric motor 25. The time switch assembly 28 includes an electric timing motor 29 which drives a timing shaft 39; there being a timing cam 35 fixed on the timing shaft is.

The timing cam 3! is formed with a 189 low surface 32 and a 189 high cam surface 33. The timing earn 3! cooperates with the switch actuating arm 34 of a single-pole, double-throw switch 35 supported above the platform 2| adiacent said timing cam 3 I.

A two-wire control circuit 35 connects the opposed terminals of the switch 35 with the corresponding terminals of a manually actuated, single-pole, double-throw switch 31 mounted on a flange 33 depending from the front edge of the platform 2|; the numeral 39 indicating the hand lever for actuating said switch 3?.

The timing motor 29 is interposed in one lead of a current supply circuit it; one lead of such circuit connecting to the common terminal of the switch 35, while the other lead of said circuit connects to the common terminal of the switch 3?.

Upon closing of the switch 3! to one side, as in Fig. 6, the circuit 43 is completed, whereupon the timing motor 29, which includes suitable reduction gearing, runs until the timing shaft 35 has made a one-half revolution, whereupon the timing cam 35 reverses the switch 35, stopping the timing motor 29. The motor 2:? thus can drive the timing shaft 35) only through a halfturn, and to obtain the next half-turn requires that the switch 37 be reversed in its position.

In short, the switch 3? serves, with aiternatc closing thereof, to cause a one-half turn of the timing shaft 3G.

Beyond the timing cam 3| the timing shaft 39 is fitted with a control cam (it for the cam shaft driving motor 25; such control cam in each of the circumference thereof being formed in succession with a low point 2, a high point a low point 44, and a high point 45; these points corresponding to the quarter-turn motions of the cam shaft I8, which motions the cam if. controls as follows:

The control cam 4| is secured on the timing shaft 39 so that one working half of the control cam 4| cooperates with a switch actuating arm 46, with each half-turn of said timing shaft 34 under the control of the timing cam 3|.

The arm 46 actuates a single-pole, doublethrow switch 41 mounted on the platform adjacent said control cam 4|.

A two-wire control circuit 43 is connected between the opposed terminals of the switch 41, and like terminals of another single-pole, doublethrow switch 49 mounted above one end portion of the cam shaft l8. The switch 49 includes a switch actuating arm 59 having a roller 5| which rides on a double-ended cam 52 of said cam shaft.

The numeral 53 indicates the current supply circuit for the cam shaft driving motor 25; the motor being interposed in one side of such circuit. The current supply circuit 53 has its leads connected to the common terminals of the switches 41 and 49, respectively; such switches being set to work in opposition.

With each half-turn of the control cam 4| by the timing motor 29, and under the control of the cam 3|, said cam 4|-as the switch actuating arm 46 is motivated by the low point 42, high point 43, low point 44, and high point 45-alternately works the switch 41, closing the current supply circuit 53 four times, twice on each side of the two-wire control circuit 48. After each closure of the current supply circuit 53, as above, the cam shaft driving motor 25 actuates the cam shaft |8 through a quarter-turn, whereupon the double-ended cam 52 comes into play, reversing the position of the switch 49, breaking said circuit 53 until the control cam 4| next works the switch 41 to reverse the latter.

Thus, during each half-turn of the timing shaft the control cam 4| and the double-ended cam 52 work in the described circuit to cause the motor 25 to recurringly turn the cam shaft IS a quarter-turn and then stop; the dwell between such quarter-turns being predetermined by the cam lengths of the control cam 4 I.

After said control cam 4| has act-ed through a half-turn, to cause four quarter-turns of the cam shaft 3, the switch actuating arm 46 drops into the following low point 42, and substantially simultaneously the timing cam 3| shuts off the timing motor 29 preparatory to the next cycle of operation, which cycle does not occur until the switch 31 is reversed.

With the foregoing control circuit arrangement, the cam shaft I8 is properly actuated during each regeneration cycle of the water softening apparatus, being rotated quarter-turns in succession, with a dwell between each turn as desired and for the functional purpose heretofore described; th dwells representing the steps of the regeneration cycle of the water softening apparatus, to-wit backwashing, brine feeding, and rinsing, and then returning to service position.

With the described control unit, the multiple valve assembly 4 of a water softening apparatus of the type described is cyclically actuated by power mechanism, under automatic control, and in a positive and effective manner, eliminating the necessity of manual or personal attendance to the apparatus during regeneration thereof.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device,

still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A control unit for a multiple valve assembly having a housing and a bank of separately movable valve control elements projecting from the housing; said unit comprising a cam shaft journaled in connection with the housing in actuating relation to said valve control elements, cams on the shaft arranged to actuate different valve control elements upon successive part-turns of said cam shaft, an electric motor operatively connected to the cam shaft, a timing cam arranged to be rotated through a predetermined arc, a circuit for said motor having a switch in one lead closed by and for the duration of such arcuate rotation of the timing cam, a control cam fixed with the timing cam, and means between the motor and control cam and including switches interposed in the other lead of the circuit actuated upon rotation of the control cam and cam shaft and arranged to cause a breaking of the circuit and stopping of the motor for predetermined recurring periods of dwell while the control cam is rotating and the first named switch is closed.

2. A control unit for a multiple valve assembly having a housing and a bank of separately movable valve control elements projecting from the housing; said unit comprising a cam shaft journaled in connection with the housing in actuating relation to said valve control elements, the cam shaft having cams arranged to actuate different valve control elements upon successive part-turns of said cam shaft, an electric motor operatively connected to the cam shaft, a timing cam arranged to be rotated through a predetermined are, a circuit for the motor having a switch in one lead closed by and for the duration of such arcuate rotation of the timing cam, a control cam fixed with the timing cam, another cam mounted for rotation with the cam shaft, a two-wire control circuit connected to and including the other lead of the motor circuit, a switch in the control circuit actuated by the control cam, and another switch in the control circuit actuated by said other cam; the control circuit, cams and switches being arranged so that the control circuit is alternately closed and opened for predetermined periods.

EDDIE J. PERRIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,713,105 Tannehill May 14, 1929 1,725,110 Stickney Aug. 20, 1929 2,012,194 Hughes Aug. 20, 1935 2,243,815 Griswold May 27, 1941 2,254,795 Daniels Sept. 2, 1941 2,265,225 Clark Dec. 9, 1941 2,284,158 Lewis May 26, 1942 2,290,626 Bosomworth July 21, 1942 

